Sign



Nov. 10, 1931.

A. HARRIS SIGN Filed Aug. 9, 1928 Elvwwntoz Patented Nov. 10, 1931 f owl-10mm PATE Q HC A EXANDEQHARRIS, or NEWARK, new JERsEY, AssIoNon nc. A 'CQBPORATION'OENEW JERSEY To ART METAL worms,

This invention relates to signs and more partlcularly to one in which the light 1s received on a stencil plate and transmitted from i the device by reflection from a mlrror surface- The main object of the invention is to provide a simple and efliclent devlce for use as a sign or as a signalling device whereby sig-' nals can be readily transmitted or multicolored symbols can be exhibited or advertised at will and the operation of the device controlled either directly by hand or' from a distance by any suitable means. In-' cidentally the device is also particularly adapted to be used as a signalling device for automobiles.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specifica tion, and which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and in which Fig. 1 is a per-- spective View of a device embodying the i1nprovements in one form and with one of the control shutters open;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device showing one of the control shutters open;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the details of the construction and arrangement of the control shafts and lever arms; and,

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through a modified form of the invention.

The device, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, comprises a casing of sheet metal having top and bottom walls and 11 and side walls 12 and 13. The walls 10 and 11 are disposed at an angle to each and at their rear edges are connected together. The front face of this chamber is open. The top wall 10 is out out and disposed therein is a stencil plate or, as

shown, a pair of such plates 14 and 15 which a 4 may be of colored materlal such as glass or other light transmitting substance not necessarily transparent. These stencils are held in place by clips 16. Normally covering the' stencils 14 and 15 are control shutters 17 and 18 which are pivotally mounted for operation.

by arms 19 and 20 to which are connected links or cords 21 I 22 for manual maniptu 'lation from a distance. It is obvious that these shutters may be operated either under manual or automatic control or by any other means such as electrlcal devices, not shown.

. The. stencils may be of differently colored glass-such as red and green glass, and'they may be provided Withsymbols such as Stop operated as desired so that the stencils will be separately exposed to the sunlight or to any other-source of light thrown thereon, the

light being transmitted through the stencils respectively and thesigns accordingly re- 'flected'from the mirror 37 as desired.

".IArm 19 isfastened tosleeve 24 journalled in bearing25 -fastened to the top wall 10. To 7 sleeve24 are connected collars 26 and 27 on shutter 17, and fastened thereto'by set screws 28 and-29. Arm 20 is fastened to stem 30 loosely mounted Within sleeve 24 and at its outer end journalled in-bearing member 31 fastened to the top wall 10. A. collar32 on the shutter 18' is fastened to the stem 30by means of set screws 33 and 34, passing through slots 35 and 36 in the sleeve 24. Thus the sutters are arranged and constructed to be operated at will by pulling on the cords or links 21 and 22. e l

I On the bottom wallll is disposed'areflecting surface of mirror glass or of polished metal 37 held in place by means of clips 38. The casing may be supported from any desired base such as a signal post controlled by a trafiic officer to signal Stop and Go, Or it may be supported on the rear ofan automobile body by means of an adjustable bracket 39, by means of'whichthe device may be adjusted. for universal movement on a sup porting member on the automobile.

In order to illustrate the operation of the device in this connectiomI will assume that itis to be used on the back of an automobile as a s gu'al means such as a-stop and Warning lighh andone which is very useful during the day tune when ordinary stop and warning lights are rather inefi'ective. As the driver proceeds and Wishes to signal a warning to the driver in the rear he may operate one of the shutters by exerting a pull on one of the cords or links by any suitable means not shown, and thus expose to the sunlight the plate onsteneil. thereunder, ili'hisaplate may adapted to convey difierent information to an observer, a mirror disposed on the bottom wall to receive the transmitted light and refiect it through the front opening, shutters pivotally mounted in shafts on said casing to preventetmnsmission of light; through said be of". green colored glass anduha'vemn ititheuplates resp ctivelyparms on .ssa-id shafts, and

letter V to give Warning of an impendlng change in the direction or speed of the vehicle. Phe' sunlight pouring down "01f the stencil will pass through itai'ld hit themirror 37 and thereby reflect the sign rearwardly.to- Ward the rear driver. If a stop signal is to be transmitted, then-.theothershutter may be manipulated and a red stencil with the letxzter S .orza-nyrother symbol thereonmaywbe eX- 1. hibited; to-lthe sunlight and, as beform -reflct- 'edn'earwardly from thezmirror- 37. i lbiszalso connections to said arms permitting the openand closing of said shutters at will.

'- namettithis specification.

ALEXANDER HARRIS.

:1 {app arent. that. the. device: cam with v :a'duan- -.=tage housed in the :daytime to. transmitxother wtraflic ;o1":changing signals :of-nanye and "263.11 alsobe used at night whenremlployedwith 1- 1 suitable sources of: light. a .Ifidesired; theishutmters maybe returned 2410 closed position: :by

5esuita blesprings, not shown.

5. Theform of the invention: shown inF-iig. 5 ;-:is amodification. in Whichthe shutters-areiconstructed :a srbeforebut are. arrangedzto pivot about'aniaxislengthwiseof theicasing instead OfxCIEGSS-W-lSG QS --in:the form 1ShOWI1JIlI1' Eigs. I 1 to 4. :Inthis form the :stencilsiareyarnanged one in. front oii or above the other instead: of at the side tofreach othernasiaboveidescnibed. .alfedesi-red theishutt'ers =l7i'and l8mlnay be trigidly sewred together: soatha't when one is =-;.opened=sthe othelxis closed andlvice versa.

While I havesdescribedmy invent-ion. indertailzand with-respectito .preferrediormsthere- Liof, Iedo not-desireto-.-be limitedtosuchde- .2 tails or forms since many changes andemodia'rfications may betmade and the invention emmbodiedin other forms Without departingirom g .-.t-he spirit and scope of .the invention in. its I. broadersaspects. Hence I desire to cover all modifications and formscoming withinv tthe a language 012 scope of any gene-.oranore ofrthe appended claims.

JlVhat I :claim .as new randdesireitoesecure by;Letters Patentg-is: 50

.top. and bottom-- Wlall iangularly disposed'and with? a: front. opening light transmitting plates" inl the' top wall, reach of said; 2 plates adapted to convey different information :to Janob server a mirror disposed on the bottom *walltoreceiveftheetransmittedllight andireflafiect it throngh'ithe?front; openja1g shutters mounted-pntheecasing to prevent transmis- 1: sion oi -lightathrough:said plates,and means 00.:fonindenendently. operating said shutters to open and c-lose-th'ennat will.

:2 In-combination with aisign casing. hav- -.ru';ng a top 'and ibottom rwall angularly disposed sand with a front opening ;lightatransmitting g plates in Jthe top Wall IGELChIJOf FSiIldLPlfites .1. ?In combinationwith a tcas i iighavi ng a 

